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What Influences Language Change?

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What Influences Language Change? 東京家政学院筑波女子大学紀要第１集 215～225ページ 1997年 What Influences Language Change? －in Australian Words and Usages－ Hiroyuki Yokose Abstract This paper reports recent results from a research study in Australian and New Zealand English. After investigating a few examples of other language first, I show the chart of other languages like (1). And next, (1) Linguistics as a cause for semantic change. Also I divide the types of semantic change into three meanings: (1) Extension of meaning, (2) Narrowing of meaning, (3) Transfer of meaning. Next, as (1) metaphorical idioms are literal English; this is evident when phrases are connected with specific activities which are often part of the the cultural or historical background of the country come to be used in everyday speech. Next, (2) Compoundings are different in N.Z. in metaphor as a source of semantic change. And there are three points concerning identifiable words and phrases: A. borrowing from the Maori language B. coinage C. semantic change. I think that semantic change is probably the most common source of words of local origin. 1. Introduction The main purpose of this paper is to report recent results from a research study in the Australian English. The results indicate language change with references to Australian words and usages. After investigating some examples of other language, I find that native speakers of Australians tend to take short cuts in their use of language. "Vocabulary is the least closely structured part of the language and so most subject to change" (The English language in Australia and New Zealand G.W.Turner) There are several different types of questions and responses in Australian language. In the types of semantic change, this is obviously when a words increases its range and association: This is evident when phrases connected with specific activities which are often part of the cultural or historical background of the country come to be used in everyday speech. Sometimes the original meaning will be lost or lost sight of and the metaphor will be quite unconsciously accepted as literal English. － 215 － 東京家政筑波女子大紀要１ 1997 Examples are: The first is the characteristic Australian greetings. G'daymate. (Hello, mate.) Owyagowin? (How are you going?) The standard response to this; NO bad. (Not so bad.) Wanna dog's eye? (Do you want a meat pie?) Jeez, it's brass monkey. (It's very cold.) She is top sort. (She is a good looking girl.) It's feeding time at the zoo. (It's time to have a meal in a hurry.) If something is okay, She is sweet. or, She is apples. (It'll be all right.) It is difficult at times to decide what is true coinage and what is merely some form of semantic change. When it comes to compounding, when the concept is a new one rather than just the intensification of an old meaning, it will be deemed a coinage. Semantic change is probably the common source of words with their flavour. What influences language change? 1. Other languages British English => American English (most of their vocabulary) "dinkum" "pass the buck" Australian English =Is that true? =to shift responsibility New Zealand English "half-pie" "taboo" "veranda" =imperfect =forbidden =a large porch Maori Pacific Languages Other (polynesian) (Indian, Chinese) Causes For Semantic Change 1. Linguistic Native speakers of Australian and NZ English tend to take short cuts, especially in spoken language. This shortening of words or set phrases in common practice in many languages. Examples are: comfy - omfortable kindy - kindergarten compo - worker's compensation nasho - national service footy - Australian Rules football smoko - break for a smoke etc, rest from work garbo - garbage collector Yammy - Yamaha motorcycle － 216 － Hiroyuki Yokose：What Influences Language Change? Australians are fond of putting "ie" on the ends of the words and converting their language into baby talk, but the fact remains that Australian language has been abbreviated to form shortened words that are now structures in their own right. They go to the greengrocers for vegies, You take the kids to kindies, If you a tart you wear lippies, You get bitten by mozzies, Come to our barbie party. Did you bring your sammie and bikkies? etc. Examples are: vegies - vegetable Aussie - Australian kindies - kindergarten chappies - chap, fellow lippies - lipstick cossie - swimming costume mozzies - mosquito goodie - ethical, good person barbie - barbecue hollies - holidays sammie - sandwich hotties - hot-water bottle bikkies - biscuits sickie - a day absent from work Brissie - Brisbane sunnies - sunglass If an "ie" ending doesn't seem appropriate for the shortened form of a word, then an "o" is added instead. If we have an oil fire we buy kero for it, when you're off working you might be doing a bit of bizzo, unless you're in the army when you are doing nashos. Other common shortened forms are, a kangaroo is a roo, Australia itself is OZ. Let me give you a demo you want some info on the lingo. kero - kerosine dero - derelict bizzo - business garbo - garbage collector nashos - national service hippo - hippopotamus demo - demonstration intro - introduction info - information lesso - lesbian lingo - language limmo - limousine Abo - Aborigine milko - milk vendor aggro - aggressive mo - moment arvo - afternoon muso - musician condo - conominium rego - vehicle registration Types of Semantic Change 1. Extension of meaning 2. Narrowing of meaning 3. Transfer of meaning － 217 － 東京家政筑波女子大紀要１ 1997 1. Extension of Meaning This is obviously when a word increases its range and association. Examples are: Bush - It means native forest with dense undergrowth-in fact all "wild" areas of vegetation. "Forest" which normally implies exotic plantings, usually pine; sometimes the collocation "native forest" appears, usually in formal language only. A "bush" has quite different and more traditional meaning. Mob - Originally applied to people, especially in urban areas; now in Australia and NZ applied to :unruly" groups of sheep. Paddock - Originally a small field near the house for keeping horses in. In New Zealand English it has come to mean all "field" no matter their size or function. Pine - This has been applied to describe many native trees which are neither related to pine trees nor to each other, red pine, black pine, white pine. Because of this liberality the true pine trees are often called by their Latin name "pinus". Plains - Used to refer to grasslands not necessarily flat, Eg. Awwarua Plains in NZ. Station - From Australian English-a convict settlemen term. Used in relation to large farms, particularly in the country. 2. Narrowing of Meaning This is when a word loses something from its range of associations; it could be that it loses one specific meaning or a whole rage of meanings. Some words become so narrowed in connotation that they ultimately dissappear from the language. Examples are: Field - In English this means any enclosed agricultural area. It implies a whole range of purposes: wheat field, hay field, corn field, field for sheep etc. It has been supplanted by "paddock" and its usage narrowed to the register of sports: rugby field, hockey field, baseball field, sports field etc. Flock - In English this refers to a group of sheep, stationary or moving but in NZ it only refers to the sheep owned by the farmer. Bushranger - Although an Australian word this is an interesting example of language change through the narrow of meaning. Originally it meant anyone who lived in the bush but over a period of time it became the world to describe the Australian equivalent of the British "highwayman". 3. Transfer of Meaning Bail up - Which means to hold up (bail up a coach, bail up a person) is derived from "bailing up a cow in a cow bail". － 218 － Hiroyuki Yokose：What Influences Language Change? Metaphor as a Source of Semantic Change 1. Metaphorical Idiom This is evident when phrases connected with specific activities often part of the cultural or historical background of the country come to be used in everyday speech. Sometimes the original meaning will be lost or lost sight of and the metaphor will be quite unconsciously accepted as "literal" English. Examples are: Yea, we're gettin creamed. -We're getting annihilated. That bastard not worth feedin. -He is not good enough for the team. Avago ya mug! -Don't just stand there you fool! Givim a go. -Give that person a fair chance. There's a big blue started on the hill. -There's a big fight started on the hill. Wanna shoot through? -Do you want to leave now? No way. -I don't want to go (leave). I'm staying to the death. -I'm staying till the end of the game He'll start it in a mo, no worries. -He'll start it in a moment, it's O.K. It's freezing, so they get rugged up and hit the -It's freezing, so they dressed up in warm road. clothes and left the road. As soon as they get there, he cracks the tinnies -As soon as they get there, he opens cans of while they sit down and start flapping their beer while they sit down and start talking. gums. Wanna dog's eye? -Do you want a meat pie? Yeah, orright. Remember the tom sauce this -Yes, all right. I need a tomato ketchup this time. time. Orright, save me pozzie. -Will you save my seat? Doan go crook at me! -Don't ge upset with me.! Ben decides to nick off. -Ben decides to go away. He gets in the Kingswodd, chucks a u-ey and -He makes a u-turn and heads back towards the heads back towards the main drag. main road. I want to buy my pre-loved car. -I want to buy my second hand car.
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